Catcher for train-order hoops.



G. E. JOHNSON.

GATOHER FOR TRAIN ORDER HOOPS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 30, 1909- 954300. Patenteq Apr. 5, 1910.

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HPIBILU II I lbHr WWW wow G. E. JOHNSON.

CATUHER FOR TRAIN ORDER HOOPS.

APPLIOATION rum) JULY 30, 1909.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

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. either way, which will be adapted to autoa citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at the provision of a catcher of simple, strong,

pivoted disk-like retainers 7 and 8.

GEORGE EPPA JOHNSON, OF ELLENSBURG, WASHINGTON.

I CATCHER FOR TRAIN-ORDER HOOPS.

v Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5, 1910.

Application filed July 30, 1909. Serial No. 510,432.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonos E. JOHNSON,

l lllensburg. county of Kittitas, and State of \Vashington, haveinvented certain new and useful. Improvements in Catchers forTrain-Order IIoops, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to catchers for train order hoops.

The present invention has for its object durable, and inexpensiveconstruction .possessing novel features, which is adapted to be appliedto either side of the cab of a locomotive ora caboose and positioned toface matically catch and retain train order hoops, without requiringattention on the part of the engineer, fireman, or member of the traincrew, thereby obviating inaccuracy and danger incident to catching trainorder hoops by hand, a practice which commonly prevails.

The invention is carried out by the provision of a catcher of novelconstruction as will appear more fully hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings:l ignre 1 is a plan view, dotted linessl'iowing the reversed position of the catcher; Fig. 2, a side elevationwhen the catcher is in horizontal position; Fig. 3, a side elevationwhen the catcher is in lowered or vertical position; Fig. 4, a detailview showing how the handle or stem can be removed for reversal; andFig. 5, a detail end View illustrating the operation of the retainers.

The catcher is preferably composed of a U-shaped frame, of piping, forinstance, 1 to which is secured a shank or handle 2. The shank or handle2 may be secured to the side of the locomotive cab or caboose indifferent ways but I prefer the securing and reversing device which isshown, consisting ofa plate 3, a tubular holder 4 secured thereto inhorizontal arrangement which has notches 5 and (5 at its respective endsand whose ends are open but are provided with The' handle or stem 2 hasa part 9 disposed angularly thereto which is adapted to he slid into theholder from the end thereof and by the engagement of the stem. 2 witheither of the notches 5 or 6, the entire catcher may be held incxtendedposition or dropped down along side the locomotive cab. By removing the.part 9 from the holder and reversing the same and entering it into theoppo site end of the holder, the catcher may be reversed to be used whenthe train is backed.

Thohinged disk-like retainers T and 8 pre- .of the lovers 1-t are coilsprings 16 which respectively balance each other in regard to theiraction on the lovers 1 1 so that the latter are normally retained intheintermediate position and in line with each other. Secured in advanceof the lovers 14 on the frame 1 are guards 17 which prevent injury tothe springs 16. I

Assuming that the open part of the frame 1 points toward the directionin which the. train is traveling and that the catcher is in horizontalposition by virtue of the reception of the stem 2 in the notch 5, when atrain order hoop is encountered, it'strikcs against the levers 1-1 andcauses them to swing inwardly as shown by dotted lines. the-hoop passingover one of the arms of the fran'ie 1 and finally resting in the yokethereof from which it can bereadily detached by a member of the crew.The springs 16 at once return the lovers let to normal position after ahoop has been caught.

-I am aware that various changes of construction could be resorted to incarrying out my invention and I do not limit it to the specificconstruction set forth.

Having thus described my inven ion, what I claim ,as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A catcher for train order hoops consisting of a catcher frame havingan arm over which the hoop is adapted to pass, a catcher lever carriedby said arm, and opposed springs acting upon said lever.

2. A catcher for train order hoops consisting of a catcher frame havingan arm over which the hoop is adapted to pass. movable levers disposedopposite each oth r with their free ends located adjacent each other,

and spring means adapted to retain the levers in normal position.

3. A catcher for train order hoops consisting of a catcher framehavingan arm over which the hoop is adapted to pass, movable leversdisposed opposite each other with their free ends located adjacent ea'chother, and opposed springs respectively co6perat ing with the leverswhereby said levers are independently yieldingly held in normalposition.

41A catcher for train order hoops consisting of an open frame havingarms, and opposed spring actuated levers disposed on the respective armsand pointing in opposite directions.

In a catcher for train order hoops, the

combination with a frame having an arm over \Vl1l\,l1 the hoop isadapted to pass, of a lever pivoted thereto, an arc-shaped guide for thelever and opposirg coil springs surrounding the guide on opposite sidesall the lever.

6. In a catches fortrain order hoops, the combination With'a catcherframe having an arm, of'a spring actuated lever carried there- Vance ofthe, lever.

7. In a catcher for train order hoops, the

"combination with a catcher frame having means for catching and holdingthe hoop, of a holder on the car consisting of a tubular member open atboth ends which is adapted to receive the shank of the frame and permitreversal thereof and having means to secure the frame in position. v

8. In a catcher for train order hoops/the combination with a catcherframe having means for catching and holding the hoop, of a holder on thecar consisting-of a tubular member open at both ends which is adapted toreceive the shank of the frame and permit reversal thereof and havingmeans to secure the frame in position and closures for 45 the oppositeends of said tubular holder. 1 In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix mysignature in presence of two Witnesses i GEO. EPPA JOHNSON.

Witnesses I by; and a guard carried by the arm in ad-

